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Van Buren Ups Recycling Schedule

Sanitation customers in Van Buren can now recycle every week using a free recycling bin if they don’t already have one, the city’s utilities director confirmed this week.

Curbside recycling service has been available in Van Buren since 1994. Until this week, it was available only twice a month.

Steve Dufresne, municipal utilities director, said the frequency was increased to weekly in order to make curbside recycling more convenient, increase participation and reduce the amount of trash that goes to the landfill.

Out of an estimated 7,100 residents on the mandatory sanitation program, about 600 participate in voluntary recycling as well.

“We thought it was time to bring our volumes up,” he said, referring to recycling participation.

According to a news release, some 5,600 tons of residential garbage from Van Buren was delivered to the Fort Smith Regional Landfill in 2010, while about 140 tons of material was recycled.

Under an amended contract with Van Buren Municipal Utilities, trash collector Deffenbaugh of Arkansas will pick up recycling every week on the normal garbage day for each service area. Both recycling and garbage should be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day.

Deffenbaugh will also supply a free, 18-gallon rectangular recycle bin upon request. Residents can call 471-7900 to obtain a bin.

Dufresne said 85 requests for recycle bins came in during the last three months of 2012, partly in response to information he sent out with utility bills in connection with America Recycles Day.

He’ll promote recycling again in this month’s bill in hopes of further boosting participation.

“We’re hoping to see a difference in the next three months,” he said.

Dufresne said the sanitation bill is $14.40 per month and includes the weekly sanitation collection, on-call limb pickup, and spring and fall bagged-leaf pickup.